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“Who is the woman?”

She stilled as his eyes searched hers, and he said, “I am not your enemy, Scarlett.”

“Then stop acting like it,” she retorted.

Sorin dropped his hand from her elbow and took a step back as if she’d just slapped him again. She held his gaze with a glare. After a long moment of silence, he said quietly, “I need to return home soon.”

“I am not stopping you,” Scarlett responded, turning to leave again.

“Myhome, Scarlett.”

She paused as she realized what he meant. Not his apartment in Baylorin but where he came from three years ago. “Andwhereexactly is yourhome, Sorin? Where exactly do you live in the Fire Court?What task did the woman send you on? Who is oppressing your people who depend on you? Who did you leave in charge?”

“You want me to answer all your questions when you will answer none of my own?” he challenged. “How did Death’s Maiden come to live with Lord Tyndell? Where is the third Wraith of Death? How did you come to find yourself in the Crown Prince’s bed? What happened a year ago? Who shoved you into a cage? What happened to your mother?”

Scarlett’s eyes widened as he flung question after question at her. “I told you what happened to my mother. She was murdered. The Prince of Fire is responsible for it. Soyoutell me, Sorin. You’re from the Fire Court. Where do you live there? What do you do there? Do you answer to that bastard? Or is he the one oppressing your people you are trying so valiantly to liberate? Where do your Fae allegiances lie?” When Sorin didn’t answer her, she rolled her eyes. “Oh good, more secrets. Just the way I like it. Before you gohome,though, I’d love my book back that you took. You could at least give me the courtesy of letting me finish it since you can’t be bothered to answer any of my godsdamned questions yourself.”

“Cassius told you I am Fae.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Of course Cassius told me. We keep little from each other.”

“Because you are…close?”

“Be very careful with your next words, General,” Scarlett warned quietly.

Sorin ran his hands through his dark hair in frustration. “By Anala, Scarlett! I have trained hundreds of soldiers and dealt with dozens of rulers, andyouare by far the most infuriating person I have ever met.”

“Who is the woman?” Scarlett demanded, her voice rising.

“I cannot tell you,” Sorin answered, his voice rising as well.

“Why not?” Scarlett was back in Sorin’s face, having thrown the items she held to the ground. Arrows fell from the quiver, rolling along the dirt. She felt the toes of her boots touch the toes of his. She could feel his breath on her face.

“Because I do not know what you are yet, and she will hunt you.The less you know, the easier it is for me to keep you safe from her,” Sorin spat.

“It is not your job to figure me out, and it is not your job to keep me safe,” Scarlett screamed.

“And whose job is it?” Sorin retorted, rage filling his features. “Cassius? Nuri? Mikale?”

“My own!” she screamed again. “Remember, Sorin? I’m all alone! It’s my own fucking job to keep myself safe.”

Suddenly Sorin’s hands were cupping her face, and his lips pressed to hers. They were warm and soft, and he tasted like cloves and honey. She brought her own hands up and buried them in his hair. It was not a gentle kiss as he forced her lips apart, and his tongue slid into her mouth. One of his hands slipped to her waist, pulling her against him while his other hand cupped the nape of her neck, holding her in place. His tongue tangled with her own as they fought for dominance.

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “I amnotNuri’s plaything,” he said, his voice gruff and low.

At the words, her lips were back on his. So different from the touch and kiss of Callan. Sorin’s hands didn’t roam, but rather held her close, not afraid of losing her but to catch her if she fell. All her thoughts, all of her questions, flew from her mind as she relaxed into his hold, letting the feeling of his lips against hers encompass her wholly, letting him take control.

Scarlett pulled back this time, and she stared at him for a moment. She steadied her own ragged breathing, disentangling herself from him, then said quietly, “Go home, Sorin.”

“Scarlett,” he breathed, rooted to the spot.

“This is me keeping myself safe.”

She turned, stooped to pick up the spilled arrows, gathered her things, and walked back to the manor, not daring to glance back.

CHAPTER 20

SORIN